Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:16:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Lorena Cardoso Cintra.pdf: 4143916 bytes, checksum: 422ca8b39c01e66c797228b6083cedf8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-08-27 / The termodimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is the etiological agent of paracoccidioidomycosis, a human systemic mycosis of high prevalence in Latin America. P. brasiliensis is exposed to oxidative stress (OS) caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by the defense cells of the human host. When the invasion by pathogens occurs, the host defense system generates ROS to fight the invader. Inside the human host, P. brasiliensis is phagocytosed by macrophages, facing an extremely hostile environment due to nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide. The Trx1 is an intracellular redox protein, which participates in the maintenance of cell redox homeostasis, both in terms of OS as reducer. It is ubiquitous and is characterized by typical CXXC active site, responsible for oxidation, reduction, or isomerization of proteins disulfide bonds. In a previous work, it was isolated, characterized and cloned into expression vector pGEX-4T-3 cDNA coding for TRX1 of P. brasiliensis (accession number AY376435). The recombinant protein (recPbTRX1) was produced and partially purified and the yeast cells of P. brasiliensis showed increased expression of the gene coding for PbTRX1 in response to OS. This study aimed the heterologous expression of cDNA of a thioredoxin of the fungus P. brasiliensis in Pichia pastoris, in order to obtain it in larger amounts for their subsequent biochemical characterization and application in biotechnological processes. The P. brasiliensis thioredoxin 1 (trx1) cDNA was obtained via PCR using the plasmid pGEX-Trx1 as template and cloned into expression vector pHIL-D2 and pPIC9 (for intracellular and extracellular expression). The insertion of the interested gene in the correct orientation was verified by sequencing and the homology was observed with Trx1 P. brasiliensis. These vectors were used to transform the P. pastoris yeast strain SMD1168 with his4- genotype. The presence of the cassette s expression was confirmed in the yeast s genome. No transformants able to secrete the protein from the building with the vector pPIC9 were detected and the intracellular production was carried from the pHIL-D2 vector. / O fungo termodimórfico Paracoccidioides brasiliensis é agente etiológico da paracoccidioidomicose, uma micose sistêmica humana, com alta prevalência na América Latina. P. brasiliensis está sujeito a estresse oxidativo (EO) causado pelas espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs), produzidas pelas células de defesa do hospedeiro humano. O sistema de defesa do hospedeiro quando da invasão por patógenos gera EROs para combater este invasor. P. brasiliensis ao penetrar no hospedeiro humano é fagocitado pelos macrófagos, enfrentando um ambiente extremamente hostil devido ao oxido nítrico e peróxido de hidrogênio. A Trx1 é uma proteína redox, intracelular, que participa da manutenção da homeostase redox da célula, tanto em condições de EO quanto redutor. É ubiquitária e caracterizada pelo sítio ativo típico CXXC, responsável pela oxidação, redução, ou isomerização das pontes dissulfeto de proteínas. Em trabalho realizado anteriormente, foi isolado, caracterizado e clonado em vetor de expressão pGEX4T-3 o cDNA codificante para Trx1 de P. brasiliensis (número de acesso AY376435). A proteína recombinante (recPbTRX1) foi produzida e parcialmente purificada e as células leveduriformes de P. brasiliensis apresentaram expressão aumentada do gene codificante para Pbtrx1 em condições de EO. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo a expressão heteróloga de uma tiorredoxina do fungo P. brasiliensis em Pichia pastoris, visando sua obtenção em maior quantidade para sua a posterior caracterização bioquímica e aplicação em processos biotecnológicos. O cDNA do gene da tiorredoxina 1 (trx1) de P. brasiliensis foi obtido via PCR utilizando como molde o plasmídeo pGEX-Trx1 e clonado no vetor de expressão pHIL-D2 e pPIC9 (para expressão intracelular e extracelular). A inserção do gene de interesse na orientação correta foi verificada por seqüenciamento, apresentando homologia com a Trx1 de P. brasiliensis. Estes vetores foram utilizados para transformar a linhagem SMD1168 da levedura P. pastoris com genótipo his4-. A presença do cassete de expressão foi confirmada no genoma da levedura. Não foram detectados transformantes capazes de secretar a proteína a partir da construção com o vetor pPIC9 e a produção intracelular foi realizada a partir do vetor pHIL-D2.

Les peroxyrédoxines sont des enzymes essentielles de la cellule. Outre leur rôle d’antioxydant, elles sont aussi des régulateurs de la signalisation cellulaire et des suppresseurs de tumeurs. La péroxiredoxine 1 (Prx1) est la plus abondante parmi les six isoformes de peroxyrédoxines humaines. Elle est fréquemment surexprimée dans plusieurs types de cellules cancéreuses, et on a pu associer Prx1 aux processus de carcinogenèse et de métastase, ainsi qu’à la résistance à la radiothérapie ou la chimiothérapie. Ainsi, Prx1 pourrait donc être une cible anticancéreuse intéressante. Au cours de ce travail de thèse, nous avons d’abord évalué l'impact d’une diminution de Prx1 (Prx1 knockdown (Prx1–)) sur la sensibilité cellulaire à des dizaines de médicaments anticancéreux dont la vinblastine, le taxol, la doxorubicine, la daunorubicine, l’actinomycine D, et le 5-fluorouracile, et d’agents connus pour provoquer la production d’espèces réactives de l’oxygène (ROS), dont le peroxyde d'hydrogène, le 2-phényléthyle isothiocyanate, le β-lapachone (β-lap) et la ménadione. Nous avons mis en évidence qu’une diminution de Prx1 augmente significativement la sensibilité des cellules à l'effet cytotoxique de la β-lap et de la ménadione, deux naphtoquinones possédant une activité anti-tumorale.Nous avons étudié les mécanismes responsables de l'augmentation de la cytotoxicité de la β-lap dans un contexte Prx1–. Nous montrons que la toxicité accrue de la β-lap dans des cellules Prx1– est due à une accumulation intracellulaire de ROS. Cet effet est dépendant de l’activité NADPH quinone oxydoréductase (NQO1) et s’accompagne d’une phosphorylation de c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), protein 38 (p38), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (Erk) et des mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), mais aussi d’une diminution des niveaux protéiques de la thiorédoxine 1. En se basant sur le fait que Prx1 est une enzyme antioxydante et un partenaire d'au moins ASK1 et JNK, deux éléments clés de la voie MAPK, nous proposons que la sensibilisation à la β-lap, observée après diminution de Prx1, est provoquée par une action synergique entre l'accumulation de ROS et l'induction de la voie MAPK, conduisant ainsi à l'apoptose.Nous avons ensuite étudié les mécanismes responsables de l'augmentation de la cytotoxicité de la ménadione dans le contexte Prx1–. La sensibilité accrue des cellules à l'effet cytotoxique de la ménadione et également associée à l'accumulation rapide et massive des ROS intracellulaire et à une mort cellulaire ressemblant à la nécrose programmée (necroptosis). L’accumulation de ROS induite par la ménadione et très rapidement détectée dans le cytosol, le noyau, et de façon encore plus importante, dans la matrice mitochondriale. Ce phénomène est en corrélation avec l'oxydation importante des thiorédoxine 2 et peroxiredoxine 3, deux protéines antioxydantes localisées dans la mitochondrie. La diminution de l’expression de Prx1 s’accompagne d’une augmentation des quantités tant de l’ARNm que de la protéine NRH: quinone oxydoréductase 2 (NQO2). Cette augmentation de l'activité de NQO2 est en grande partie responsable de l'accumulation intracellulaire de ROS et de la mort cellulaire après le traitement à la ménadione. Nos données révèlent que l’accumulation de ROS dans les cellules Prx1– provient de la résultante entre l’augmentation de leur production par NQO2 au cours du métabolisme de la ménadione et la diminution de leur élimination par Prx1. Enfin et de façon surprenante, selon la nature des naptoquinones (β-lap ou ménadione), les voies métaboliques qui conduisent à l'accumulation des ROS, ou les voies de signalisation et les mécanismes de mort cellulaire impliqués semblent être distincts. / Peroxiredoxins have multiple cellular functions as major antioxidants, signaling regulators, molecular chaperones and tumor suppressors. Peroxiredoxin 1 (Prx1) is the most abundant among the six isoforms of human peroxiredoxins. It is frequently over-expressed in various cancer cells, which is known associated with carcinogenesis, metastasis and resistance to radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Prx1 could thus be an interesting anticancer target. In this study, we first evaluated the impact of Prx1 knockdown (Prx1–) on cellular sensitivity to dozens of anticancer drugs including vinblastine, taxol, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, actinomycin D, and 5-fluorouracil, and of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating agents, including hydrogen peroxide, 2-phenylethyl isothiocyanate, β-lapachone (β-lap) and menadione. We observed that Prx1 knockdown significantly enhanced cancer cell sensitivity to β-lap and menadione, two naphthoquinones with anti-cancer activity.We first investigated the underlying mechanisms responsible for the specifically enhanced cytotoxicity to β-lap in a Prx1 knockdown context. Prx1 knockdown markedly potentiated β-lap-induced cytotoxicity through ROS accumulation. This effect was largely NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1)-dependent and associated with the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), protein 38 (p38) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (Erk) proteins in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, and a decrease in thioredoxin 1 protein levels. Based on the fact that Prx1 is a major ROS scavenger and a partner of apoptosis signaling kinase 1 (ASK1) and JNK, two key components of MAPK pathways, we propose that Prx1 knockdown-induced sensitization to β-lap is achieved through the combined action of ROS accumulation and MAPK pathway activation, leading to cell apoptosis.We then investigated the underlying mechanisms responsible for the specifically enhanced cytotoxicity to menadione in Prx1– cells. Enhanced sensitivity to menadione was associated with a rapid and significant intracellular ROS accumulation and necroptotic-like cell death. Menadione-induced ROS accumulation occurred immediately in the cytosol, the nucleus, and even more noticeably in the mitochondrial matrix, correlated with significant oxidation of both mitochondria-localized thioredoxin 2 and peroxiredoxin 3. Prx1 knockdown significantly up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of NRH: quinone oxidoreductase 2 (NQO2). Increased activity of NQO2 was largely responsible for menadione-induced ROS accumulation and consequent cell death. Our data indicate that massive ROS accumulation results from the combined effect of increased ROS generation by higher NQO2 activity during menadione metabolism, and diminished Prx1 scavenging activity. Finally and noteworthy, the metabolic pathways that lead to ROS accumulation, downstream signaling pathways and cell death mechanisms appear to be distinct for β-lap and menadione.